An investigation by the Election Commission (EC) revealed yesterday that the BNP nominee in Naogaon-6 constituency in the recent parliamentary election had been provided with the flawless result sheet of Gahelapur High School polling station showing no sign of vote rigging there.

The Awami League (AL) high command might soon dissolve the central committee of its associate body Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) in the wake of recent series of violence at several educational institutions across the country.

Five former Awami League (AL) lawmakers and the Jatiya Party (Manju) chief appeared before the court for bail yesterday, but only godfather HBM Iqbal was granted bail, although all were convicted of similar graft offences.

Army rolled out yesterday for maintaining law and order in the January 22 upazila parishad elections as grassroots level leaders of the two major political rivals--ruling Awami League and opposition BNP--face off in the crucial battle of ballots.

BNP standing committee member and former minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain brought back 76,282.07 pounds (equivalent to about Tk 1.04 crore) from the UK at the initiative of now-defunct taskforces.

Authorities of Chittagong University (CU) early today broke open the locks on the university main gate and faculty buildings ending a two-day siege of the campus by activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr Abdur Razzak yesterday directed BDR officials to take steps so that fertiliser cannot be smuggled into India by taking advantage of its low price in the country.

The Thai government is investigating and verifying all the facts and circumstances relating to the recent news reports on 'illegal migrants' found in the Andaman Sea, said Thai ambassador in Dhaka Chalermpol Thanchitt in a media release yesterday.

Bangladesh will look to erase the heartbreak of Friday's tri-series final loss to Sri Lanka when they take on Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur today.

Editorial

WE have been urging the government to rein in Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists since the first reports poured in about their take-over bids in hall dormitories. If it were heeded earlier on, the situation wouldn't have perhaps come to this pass.

IT is a matter of utmost concern that many industrial units in the country keep releasing toxic gas and chemicals into the environment to the peril of human health, crops and aquatic resources. What is supremely ironical is, while the owners of these industrial units as responsible citizens contribute significantly to the growth of the economy and generation of employment opportunities, they prefer to remain indifferent to the vital issue of environment pollution and the resulting damage to eco-system.

UNDOUBTEDLY, the most immediate task of the newly elected government would be to arrest the price spiral. Inflationary pressure left poor people impoverished for the last few years. And that has already been mentioned by the newly elected PM as well as her ministers in the cabinet.

THE world is witnessing a replay of Israel's 34-day war with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006, with some variations. Israel is unleashing hell to "defend" itself as President Bush and president-elect Obama would have us believe. In 2006, the invaders received a befitting response from Hezbollah, but Hamas has been operating in an occupied zone with severe limitations of finances and training facilities. So, Hamas may be unlikely to give Israel the punishment which Hezbollah inflicted on it.

THE Satyam scandal has been wrongly called “India's Enron,” after the gigantic 2001 fraud in the US company. In fact, the Satyam scam is much bigger in magnitude and impact. The amount stolen from Enron was Rs. 2,866 crores at current exchange rates. In Satyam, according to promoter B. Ramalingam Raju, Rs. 7,136 crores were involved.

Sports

Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful has put the onus on himself and fellow top-order batsmen, asking them to score some big runs against Zimbabwe in the three-match Grameenphone Series that begins today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Suspended Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif nearly landed in another controversy on Saturday. Asif, who arrived in India to sort out financial issues with his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Daredevils, was stopped at the Delhi airport due to visa-related problems, but was later allowed to move out following intervention by the Pakistan High Commission officials, PTI reported.

The will he, won't he transfer saga of Brazilian star Kaka's potential move to Manchester City for a record fee is "ridiculous" hype engendered by his club AC Milan, according to a source close to City's Arab owners.

Barcelona were back to their brilliant best crushing Deportivo La Coruna 5-0 at Camp Nou on Saturday to move 15 points clear of Real Madrid and 12 ahead of Sevilla at the top of the Spanish first division.

Business

The shrimp industry foresees the toughest time this year on a continuous fall both in the price and demand in the troubled developed economies, main consumers of the item, according to industry people.

The commerce minister prefers ensuring all kinds of cooperation to business communities rather than reactivating the state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to arrest the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities in the local market.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua yesterday said the government is going to formulate a coordinated industrial policy to attract local and foreign investment in the country by creating an investment-friendly environment.

Barack Obama and his congressional allies are gambling that the largest public spending program since World War II and a new round of tax cuts will pry the economy from the recession's iron grip and avert another Depression.

In forcing Ukraine to accept a fast shift to market prices for its gas, Russia has managed to remind all in stark terms that it still has considerable influence on its ex-Soviet neighbour, analysts say.

Citycell, the country's only CDMA mobile operator, has introduced the first inter-standard global roaming service in Bangladesh, allowing customers to roam in both CDMA and GSM networks of over 450 operators in more than 200 countries around the world.

Pakistani High Commissioner in Dhaka Alamgir Babar announced that a meeting between the Joint Business Council and the Joint Economic Council of Pakistan and Bangladesh would soon be held in Islamabad, according to a press release.

Leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) yesterday submitted a memorandum to Dhaka University (DU) Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique demanding security of JCD men on the campus and peaceful coexistence at the university dormitories.

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) will involve Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) for preparing database of the applicants and conducting lottery for the allotment of plots at Purbachal New Town Project and Uttara Model Town (Third Phase).

Director General for Country Programmes in the UK government's Department for International Development (DFID) Mark Lowcock arrives in Dhaka today on a four-day visit aimed at updating development partnership between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom.

At least 10 nurses were injured during a clash between pro-BNP and pro-Awami League nurses over occupying the trade union office at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) yesterday.

The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule upon the government to explain why it should not be directed to constitute the National Food Safety Advisory Council as per provisions of Pure Food Ordinance 1959 for obtaining appropriate advices and policies related to food safety and quality control.

The High Court (HC) yesterday issued a rule upon the government to explain within two weeks why the Private University Ordinance 2008 promulgated by the immediate past caretaker government (CG) should not be declared illegal.

A four-day education exhibition on information of courses, programmes and facilities offered by different private universities and other educational institutions will begin at Bashundhara Expo Centre in the city on Thursday.

A team of plastic surgeons from Japan led by Dr Terasima will carried out operations of burn contracture, cleft lip and cleft palate at Joiramkura Mission Hospital in Mymensingh from February 7-14, says a press release.

Abu Zafar Md Khalilur Rahman, chairman candidate at Kahalu upazila polls in Borga, succumbed to his injuries at Ibn Sina Hospital in the city yesterday following a criminal attack on him and his supporters when they were going to campaign on Thursday night.

All district administrations and agriculture extension offices in Khulna division will jointly monitor distribution of fertilisers so that farmers can get it in time at the reduced rate fixed by the government.

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) seized huge quantity of Indian saree, Yaba tablets and marijuana from Rajshahi, Naogaon and Dinajpur, and arrested three people in this connection in last two days.

Activists and supporters of Awami League (AL) in Tangail are confused over the candidature in the upcoming upazila election on January 22 as more than one party leaders are contesting for chairman post in different upazilas in the district.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists have taken control of around 19 dormitories in different educational institutions in Rajshahi city after Awami League-led grand alliance won in the December 29 parliament election.

At least five BNP men including two brothers of a former lawmaker of the party were injured in an attack by workers of the ruling Awami League (AL) at village Vitbila in Sujanagar upazila yesterday, party sources said.

Letters

Much is being published in the dailies by the new government about containing the prices; and today (10th. Jan.) the Hon. Commerce Minister gave a time frame of one month as reported. This naturally should remain this government's top priority agenda. This is what will make or mar this government; of which I am sure they are fully aware.

The people of Bangladesh have once again asserted that they are serious about their rights and responsibilities; they cannot be sidelined and ignored; and moreover, they are not apolitical. They have delivered their verdict for change and the change is for peace and progress for the entire population across the country. They have clearly ordained that the people's wish is the supreme.

It hasn't even been a week since we got our “democracy” back and already there have been clashes amongst the student fronts of our political parties over establishing their supremacy at some residential halls of DU. This sort of monkey business will not be tolerated.

Poverty alleviation in this country is really a mammoth task. Nevertheless, Bangladesh has been struggling hard to get over abject poverty. It is, indeed, a big challenge for our country because poverty is still so deep-rooted here.

My heart broke, sank deeply when I heard the news of Alok Sir committing suicide. He was my beloved teacher of the Journalism Department of Chittagong University (CU). As a student, I feel guilty that we could not help when he was in distress. Some rotten, filthy people poured so much poison that he couldn't bear. He was so innocent, simple and guileless. The nastiness of this vindictive society did not allow him to live. Shame!

Reading Syed Badrul Ahsan's invaluable write-ups is a great pleasure always. His writings based on the ground realities reflect the pros and cons of the issues that he pens through. Take the one titled "Diplomacy and enlightened self-interest", for example. Here he makes a pragmatic analysis of diplomacy and the diplomats and their role given the changing situations in the country and abroad.

As a Bangladeshi, I like our culture. I feel proud when I see that all Bangladeshi people celebrate 21 February, 16 December and Pahela Baishakh. I also become proud when I listen to Rabindra Sangeet, Palliigeeti and Lalongeeti .But at present it is a matter of great regret that our time honoured culture is on the wane. Our own culture and tradition are going to be replaced by alien culture. Our young people are being influenced by such culture.

Smoking in public places is restricted in our country. Our government has also formulated a law on the issue. But it is a matter of great regret that people are smoking openly violating the law. Even the members of law enforcing agencies violate the law. The government has failed to enforce the law strictly.

I follow the cricket results in The Daily Star ever so often and would appreciate if the latest scores were included at the top of the article as it proves, in my opinion, quite challenging for readers to gauge the actual score after reading the report. And sometimes people would just like to glance at the scores without reading the entire report.

Nobel Laureate Professor Dr. Abdus Salam established the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) in Italy with the objective of developing the third world countries through utilization of basic sciences. Prof. Abdus Salam was from a developing country, Pakistan. He wanted to establish the research centre in a developing country but he was not given support to establish such an important institute by any country of the third world. The reasons are political, social and financial. But the most important reason was lack of importance given by the politicians to the issue. To tell it more clearly many political leaders of the developing countries did not understand what the famous scientist was going to do at that time. Now many politicians and scientists of those countries understand what mistake they committed by turning down the request of Prof. Abdus Salam.

During the BNP-Jamaat rule, the development of Rajshahi and Rangpur was neglected. Most of the ministers were from certain areas and so-called development took place in those areas only. Bogra and even Ishwardi (very near to Rajshahi) got pipeline gas some years ago, but still now Rajshahi is far behind it. There are lots of issues I can mention in this regard.

Barisal Public University, the name of a unique higher study hub, has been demanded by people of the southern region of Bangladesh. This grand educational pyramid had been coated by golden hopes of millions of common people of Barisal. In 1979 President Ziaur Rahman had pledged to establish this varsity but this dream project was dead along with this visionary. But his political party, the BNP, ruled the country for two five year terms in the last 15 years. In those terms of governance, Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia pledged more than 7 times to establish this university but in reality nothing has been done.

There is a widespread belief among the general Muslims in our country that native Arabs living in Middle East will be faithful adherents to Islam as they are the inhabitants of the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad(Pbuh). This assumption, however, is not a valid or logical one: just because people live in the birthplace of the Prophet (Pbuh) does not necessarily mean that they will be truly religious in essence. Christianity, for instance, originated in the present day Middle East, nonetheless we will find the majority of faithful Christians living in other places such as the USA, Canada and so on. Similarly, Buddhism originated in present day Nepal, but the vast majority of Nepalese are not Buddhists, rather we see a significant number of practising Buddhists living mainly in the South-East Asia or other regions.

At present there are over two hundred and fifty govt. colleges in Bangladesh. The number of govt. colleges was about ten in 1970 and their performances were enviable. But during Ershad regime private colleges were nationalized right & left for the sake of cheap popularity. On the one hand, this has resulted in huge recurring expenditures from public funds and on the other hand performance of many of these colleges has gone down dismally. Instead of improvement in teaching standard & performance in exams, the result has been just the opposite because teachers are more interested in private tuition rather than classroom teaching. This is because they feel that their jobs are secure. Performances of many private colleges are much better then a large number of nationalized colleges.

After independence when people's dream was not being fulfilled, Freedom Fighter Ziaur Rahman emerged in the political arena of Bangladesh and people started gathering en masse behind him. In 1971, people had heard his voice from Kalurhat Betar Kendra and were inspired to a great extent to fight against the Pakistani invaders. If Zia were not a Freedom Fighter, people would not have supported him. Actually Zia appeared in our political sky like a comet. His personal honesty was a great plus point amongst dishonest politicians.

Nearly a decade ago, the US Marines staged mock urban battles designed to test future tactics for fighting in streets and alleys. The war games featured an array of advanced military hardware, including aerial drones with the laser-sharp cameras and micro-robots to scout for mines and potential ambushes.

Invoking hope and history, President-elect Barack Obama rolled into the capital city Saturday night after pledging to help bring the nation "a new Declaration of Independence" and promising to rise to the stern challenges of the times.

Nato chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Sunday denounced Afghanistan's "ineffective" government and said the authorities there were almost as much to blame for the country's plight as the resurgent Taliban.

Hilali Gurukul School in Siraganj town is a unique institution. In addition to academics, the school offers dancing classes to the young ones. No wonder that within a few years of its establishment, it has achieved much popularity in the district.

Muktodhara Sanskriti Charcha Kendra, a TSC based organisation of reciters observed its 19th anniversary with a two-day programme at the Shawkat Osman Memorial auditorium, Central Public Library. On January 16, a recitation programme titled "Jugalbandi: Abritti o Jiboney" -- featuring eminent reciter couples -- was held. "Balika Ashram", a Muktodhara production, was staged for the fifth time as part of the anniversary programme on January 17.

Amidst the string of concerts in Delhi, one such event stood out in public memory: The Trio Concert, organised by the Japan Foundation in collaboration with the India International Centre (IIC). In the spotlight were three well known artistes, Mizuno Nobuyuki (horn), Matsuoka Mie (piano) and Kyoko Saburi (violin) who played to an entranced audience.

OP-ED

IT would be wonderful if Bangladesh could be transformed into a modern, technologically advanced and prosperous country by 2021, the 50th anniversary of our independence. It is a long term and ambitious objective that is definitely attainable if we can provide modern and appropriate education and training to our young generation, make research and innovation the major focus of our higher education sector, and use science and technology as the major tool for meeting our development goals. Without these, Vision 2021 and "Digital Bangladesh" will be no more than mere election slogans.

LEADERSHIP is primarily the responsibility of faithful stewardship. Stewardship is the faithful use of all resources and opportunities that is within the care of the government. It is entrusted with the sacred responsibility of profitably using all the resources -- man, material, merit -- for the fulfillment of the hopes and dreams of the people.

THE UN partition plan of 1947 for British mandated territory of Palestine gave 56% of the land to 31% of the total population who were Jewish. Ironically, the Jewish land ownership in Palestine was less than 7%. The demography of Palestine at the time of partition was 1.2 million Palestinian Arabs and 0.6 million Jews.

YOUR humble narrator has been travelling for almost 24 hours, right across the world to Europe. I have just settled into a hotel room in The Hague, Holland. It's funny, in cartoons of Holland, you always see windmills and wooden clogs and tulips -- well, the real thing also has all those things in clear view.

Star City

Construction of the proposed wholesale kitchen markets by Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) in the city faces further delay, as land acquisition in three locations could not be completed yet for multiple reasons.

Wall magazines with stories, poems, cartoons, paintings, science fictions and other articles with beautiful illustrations adorned the walls of the Bangla Academy as a national competition on wall magazines has just ended there.